title: Coping difficulties after hospitalization.
abstract: Coping difficulties of 113 adults 3 weeks after hospital discharge were identified using the Post-Discharge Coping Difficulty Scale and a brief focused telephone interview (11-item guide). Overall, low difficulty scores were reported (M = 23.9, SD = 18.2, range = 0 to 100). Qualitative data reveal specific coping difficulties in the categories of stressors, specific difficulties, caring for self, managing the condition, family, advice needed, contact with the health care system, and what they wished they knew before discharge. A core theme of biographical reconstruction emerged.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald Miller
authors.forename: Linda B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Piacentine
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult